Tag Archives: 30th Anniversary

Manga Anime

Digimon Best Adventure Series Starts 4 October — New 2027 Anime Also Teased

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Digimon’s 30th anniversary shifted into gear today with a special broadcast that delivered three things at once: the global fan vote results, a new TV compilation series launching in October, and the confirmation of a brand-new anime for 2027.

Fans Around the World Voted for the Best Episodes of Four Classic Series

Earlier this year, Toei Animation ran a worldwide fan vote asking viewers to select their single favourite episode from four of the franchise’s classic runs. The results, announced today on the official Digimon broadcast special, are as follows:

  • Digimon Adventure — Episode 54: “A New World”
  • Digimon Adventure 02 — Episode 21: “Goodbye, Ken…”
  • Digimon Tamers — Episode 43: “Beelzemon Returns”
  • Digimon Frontier — Episode 50: “Across Time! The Beginning of a New Legend”

These fan-selected episodes read almost like a greatest-hits of Digimon’s emotional highs — the finale of Tai’s original journey, a gut-punch sacrifice episode in 02, Beelzemon’s redemption arc in Tamers, and Frontier’s closing chapter. The vote was open globally, so Singapore fans who weighed in are literally part of this programme.

Digimon Best Adventure key visual showing protagonists from Adventure, Adventure 02, Tamers and Frontier alongside their partner Digimon
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

Bokura ga Eranda Best Adventure Starts Broadcasting 4 October in Japan

The four winning episodes will air as a special compilation anthology titled Bokura ga Eranda Best Adventure (“The Best Adventure We Chose”), produced by Toei Animation in cooperation with WiZ, Bandai, and Fuji Television. It begins its Sunday broadcast run in Japan on 4 October 2026.

The project also reunites the artists behind some of Digimon’s most beloved songs. Ayumi Miyazaki — the voice of “Brave Heart” and countless other Digimon tracks — and Takayoshi Tanimoto — who sang “The Biggest Dreamer” and “Spirits Up!” — both perform for a new theme, written by Hiroshi Yamada and composed by Michihiko Ohta. No international streaming window has been confirmed yet; the classic series themselves are available on Crunchyroll, which is accessible in Singapore, but a specific simulcast for this compilation has not been announced.

Bokura ga Eranda Best Adventure Teaser PV — via Digimon Official Channel (DIGIMONofficialJP) on YouTube

A New Digimon TV Anime Is Also Confirmed for 2027

The broadcast special went further: Toei Animation confirmed that a brand-new Digimon TV anime series is currently in production with a 2027 target, following on from Digimon BeatBreak, which has been airing on Fuji TV since October 2025 and is still ongoing. No title, staff, story, or character details were shared — just the confirmation that the franchise is not pausing after BeatBreak wraps.

Tai and Greymon in a classic battle scene from Digimon Adventure, one of the four series featured in Bokura ga Eranda Best Adventure
Image courtesy of Toei Animation

The original Digital Monster virtual pet launched in 1997, meaning 2027 marks the franchise’s official 30th year. For Singapore fans who first encountered Tai, Agumon, and the Digital World on Cartoon Network or VHS in the late ’990s and early 2000s, the news that the anniversary is being marked with both a nostalgic retrospective and a forward-looking new anime is the best possible combination. We’ll cover the new series the moment more details arrive — check our anime coverage to stay up to date.

Game News

Star Ocean 30th Anniversary: Free Livestream This Sunday at 7pm SGT

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Three decades is a long time to travel the stars. Star Ocean — Square Enix’s space-fantasy JRPG series that blends science fiction and swords-and-sorcery — turns 30 on 19 July 2026, and to mark the occasion the publisher is hosting a free Star Ocean 30th anniversary livestream you can catch from Singapore that same Sunday evening.

スターオーシャン30周年記念公式生放送 ～星の海を駆け抜けろ～ — via Square Enix on YouTube

What’s in the Star Ocean 30th Anniversary Stream

The broadcast — titled Star Ocean 30th Anniversary Official Livestream: Race Across the Sea of Stars — airs on Square Enix’s official YouTube channel on 19 July 2026 at 19:00 SGT (20:00 JST). It will remain available to rewatch after the stream ends.

Square Enix has confirmed the stream will cover the series’ history and behind-the-scenes development stories, and will announce various 30th anniversary initiatives — which the community is hoping could include special merchandise, sale campaigns, or platform re-releases. Hosts Neki Matsuzawa and Susumu Imadachi will be joined by developer guests Yuichiro Kitao from Gemdrops (the studio behind The Second Story R) and Megumi Komaki from Square Enix.

One thing explicitly not in the stream: a new game. Square Enix was upfront with Gematsu that no new game information will be presented. If you’re holding out for a Star Ocean 7 announcement, this isn’t it — but for fans of the series, a proper retrospective with the developers behind its best-regarded modern entry should still be worth a Sunday evening.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - Link Combo Dragon Roar battle on an open field
Image courtesy of Square Enix

30 Years of Space-Fantasy RPGs

The original Star Ocean launched on Super Famicom on 19 July 1996, developed by tri-Ace. It never reached the West in that form, but its sequel — Star Ocean: The Second Story on PlayStation — landed globally in 1999 and built the fanbase many Singapore JRPG veterans grew up with. Claude and Rena’s adventures across Expel and Energy Nede remain the series high point for much of the community.

The franchise continued through Till the End of Time (PS2, 2003), The Last Hope (PS3/360, 2009), Integrity and Faithlessness (PS4, 2016), and The Divine Force (PS5/PS4/Xbox/PC, 2022). The most recent entry, Star Ocean: The Second Story R, arrived in November 2023 — a full remake of the beloved PS1 classic by Gemdrops, blending pixel-art characters with richly detailed 3D environments. It’s currently available on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - story dialogue scene aboard a spaceship
Image courtesy of Square Enix

How to Watch From Singapore

The stream lands at 19:00 SGT (7pm) this Sunday, 19 July — about as convenient as a Japanese anniversary broadcast gets for Singapore. Catch it free on YouTube; no subscription or geo-block applies to the stream.

If you haven’t played the series yet, Star Ocean: The Second Story R is the obvious starting point — it’s on the PlayStation Store Singapore, Nintendo eShop, and Steam. Pick it up ahead of the stream and you’ll have full context for whatever 30th anniversary plans Square Enix unveils on Sunday. We’ll follow up here on GameTrader once the anniversary initiatives are announced.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - party walking through a countryside village
Image courtesy of Square Enix
Star Ocean: The Second Story R - dungeon combat with magical spell effects
Image courtesy of Square Enix

Game News

Nintendo 64 Turns 30 Today: A Look Back at a Gaming Giant

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Today, June 23, 2026, marks exactly 30 years since Nintendo launched the Nintendo 64 in Japan. Thirty years. A number that hits differently when you realise some of the kids who first plugged in an N64 cartridge in 1996 are now parents handing controllers to their own children — possibly on a Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo’s Giant Leap into 3D Gaming

When the Nintendo 64 hit store shelves in Japan on June 23, 1996, it arrived at one of the most exciting inflection points in gaming history. Developers everywhere were scrambling to figure out how to build 3D worlds, and Nintendo answered the question with breathtaking authority. Super Mario 64 launched alongside the console and essentially wrote the rulebook for how 3D platformers should feel — a rulebook that is still being followed today.

The hardware itself was bold. The controller’s central analog stick gave players true 360-degree freedom of movement, a revelation at a time when d-pads ruled everything. Four built-in controller ports meant the N64 became the console of choice for multiplayer sessions — the kind that turned Friday-night sleepovers into legendary marathon gaming events. The N64 sold around 33 million units worldwide, a figure modest by PlayStation standards but punching well above its weight in cultural footprint.

The Nintendo 64 console — Nintendo's first dedicated 3D gaming system
Image courtesy of Nintendo

The Games That Made the N64 a Legend

The N64’s library was relatively small compared to PlayStation’s, but its quality ceiling was extraordinary. Consider this lineup of defining titles:

  • Super Mario 64 — set the template for 3D platformers, still referenced to this day
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time — routinely called one of the greatest games ever made; introduced Z-targeting and cinematic storytelling to action-adventure games
  • GoldenEye 007 — proved first-person shooters could thrive on consoles and practically invented split-screen multiplayer as we know it
  • Mario Kart 64 — four-player chaos that remains the gold standard for party racing
  • Star Fox 64 — a showcase of cinematic voice acting and on-rails space combat that still feels thrilling
  • Super Smash Bros. — the crossover fighting game that launched a franchise with its own dedicated competitive scene decades later

The N64 in Singapore’s Gaming Story

For Singapore gamers of a certain age, the N64 holds a special place in the memory. Imported cartridges appeared in Sim Lim Square and Funan Centre not long after the Japanese and North American launches, and the console quickly became a fixture in heartland game rental shops and the homes of anyone lucky enough to have one. The four-player setup was practically made for Singapore’s social gaming culture — tight spaces, big groups, and the kind of competitive energy that only intensifies when you’re crammed around a TV together.

Many of us had our minds blown by Ocarina of Time for the first time on a borrowed cartridge. That sense of scale — Hyrule Field stretching out in every direction, day cycling into night — felt genuinely limitless. It is difficult to overstate how transformative that was for a generation of players who had grown up with sprite-based 2D games.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time – Nintendo Direct 6.9.2026 — via Nintendo of America on YouTube

Thirty Years On — The N64’s DNA in Nintendo Switch 2

What better way to mark the N64’s 30th birthday than to look at how much of its DNA is woven into the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup? At this year’s Nintendo Direct, Nintendo dropped the biggest nostalgia bomb possible: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is coming to Switch 2 as a full remake. The beloved N64 classic will be “reborn exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2”, with modern visuals and the first major revisiting of the game since the 2011 3DS version.

Star Fox — the franchise that starred in one of the N64’s finest moments with Star Fox 64 — is also getting a cinematic reimagining for Switch 2, launching this Thursday, June 25. And Xenoblade Genesis, announced for 2027, promises “a new beginning” for a series that has always carried that spirit of grand N64-era adventure. The N64 may be 30, but its ideas are clearly still in production.

Last Words

Three decades is a long time in gaming. The industry has shifted almost beyond recognition since 1996 — online multiplayer replaced the couch sessions, HD replaced blocky polygons, and mobile put a capable gaming device in every pocket in Singapore. Yet the games the N64 gave us are still being discussed, remade, speedrun, and passed down. That is the measure of a great platform.

Happy birthday, N64. You turned our Saturday afternoons into something we still talk about. And from the look of the Switch 2 lineup, Nintendo has not forgotten what made you special. Check out our Game News section for all the latest on what’s coming to Switch 2 this year.

Game News, Shop and Merchandise

30 Years of Pokémon Box Art in One Collection: Game Package Merch Drops at Pokémon Center Online Today

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Thirty years ago, a pair of cartridges called Pocket Monsters Red and Green launched in Japan and quietly changed pop culture forever. To mark the occasion, The Pokémon Company has released one of its most ambitious merchandise lines yet — a collection of products designed around the box art of every major mainline Pokémon game ever made, covering the full run from 1996’s Pokémon Red and Green right through to last year’s Pokémon LEGENDS: Z-A. The goods went live at Pokémon Center Online Japan on 18 June 2026 at 10am JST (that’s 9am SGT, so some of us may already be placing orders).

Pokémon 30th anniversary game package collection products
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

What Is the Pokémon Game Package Collection?

The line, officially called the Pokémon Game Package Collection, spans 39 major Pokémon game releases — every mainline title, both paired versions and the Legends games. The designs are based on the Japanese box art, which matters to collectors: Pokémon Green, the Japan-exclusive twin to Red that never received an international release, appears in its own right here rather than being swapped out for Pokémon Blue. For Western fans and Singapore collectors who grew up seeing only Red and Blue on shop shelves, that’s a genuinely rare treat.

Everything in the Lineup — and What It Costs

The collection covers six main product types:

  • Package Pins — generation-grouped sets with glitter-edged enamel pins faithfully recreating each box art. Sets run from ¥660 (roughly S$6) for a single-game set like Legends: Z-A up to ¥2,640 (S$24) for the original Red and Green duo.
  • Package Magnet Collection — 3D magnets that replicate the shape, texture and metallic finishes of the actual game boxes, including glitter effects. Capsule-toy format, grouped by era.
  • T-Shirts in Box-Shaped Pouches — ¥3,960 (≈S$36) each, available in M and L. The front features the Pokémon from that game’s box art; the back prints a chronological timeline of every game release. The pouch itself is shaped like the game’s original software packaging.
  • Package Cap & Sacoche (Shoulder Bag) — Both ¥2,970 (≈S$27). The cap and bag are designed as canvases to display your pins — attach your collection and wear it.
  • Package & Game Card Keychain Collection — ¥400 (≈S$4) capsule toys featuring true-to-life miniature cartridges and game cards from various eras.
  • Package Pins All Package Collection 1996–2025 — The centrepiece. All 39 game box art pins, arranged in chronological order and displayed in a framed wall piece with a built-in stand. Priced at ¥30,000 (≈S$274). Yes, it is expensive. Yes, we want one anyway.
Pokémon 30th anniversary package pin collection framed display
Image courtesy of The Pokémon Company

The Green Version Moment — Why This Collection Hits Different

Most Singapore Pokémon fans grew up with Red and Blue — Green was the one that only Japanese kids got. Seeing it represented alongside its counterpart in a chronologically ordered display is a small but meaningful nod to the franchise’s history. The collection also doesn’t skimp on the dual-game pairings: Diamond and Pearl each get their own pin, Gold and Silver each get their own design, all the way through Scarlet and Violet. For anyone who has collected multiple versions across 30 years, the full 39-game framed display is essentially a trophy of the hobby itself.

How Singapore Fans Can Order

The Pokémon Game Package Collection is currently available exclusively at Pokémon Center Online Japan — no confirmed Singapore or international release date has been announced. That’s standard for Japan-exclusive Pokémon Center drops, and it does not mean an international release won’t happen, just that it hasn’t been confirmed yet.

In the meantime, Singapore fans have a few reliable options for import shopping:

  • Buyee — A widely used proxy service that lets you purchase from Japanese sites directly. Works with Pokémon Center Online.
  • ZenMarket — Similar proxy, popular in the SG community, no subscription needed.
  • Meccha Japan — A dedicated Japanese import store that often stocks Pokémon Center goods directly. Worth bookmarking.

Shipping and proxy fees will add to the cost, so factor in around 20–30% on top of the yen prices above. For more on Pokémon and gaming merch for Singapore fans, check our merchandise section.

Last Words

As Singapore’s own gaming scene continues to grow — from Pokémon GO Raid Days at Bugis and Marina Bay Sands to the packed floors of Anime Festival Asia — it’s easy to forget that the franchise at the heart of so much of that excitement only exists because of a pair of Japanese Game Boy cartridges thirty years ago. This collection is a tangible, displayable reminder of that journey. Whether you’re going for a ¥660 single-era pin or dropping ¥30,000 on the full framed display, there’s something here for every type of Pokémon fan. Just don’t blame us when your wallet takes a hit.